BRIEFLY: VW, Germany, Ford & more | 24 Jul 2026

BRIEFLY: VW, Germany, Ford & more | 24 Jul 2026 EV News Daily - Technology and Business of EVs · Jul 28, 2026

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Car

Volkswagen transporter plug-in hybrid

This is a Volkswagen van that can run on electricity for a limited distance, but it also has a regular engine for longer trips. The host points out it’s a plug-in hybrid and gives the battery size and electric range.

Term

shuttle body styles

A shuttle is a van setup aimed more at carrying passengers. It’s usually configured like a people-mover rather than a cargo-only vehicle.

Term

panel van

A panel van is a work-focused van with a mostly enclosed cargo area. It’s usually meant for carrying tools or goods rather than passengers.

Term

combi

A combi is a van layout that can carry both people and cargo. It’s meant to be flexible depending on what you’re doing that day.

Term

kilowatts hours

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) tell you how big the battery is. Bigger battery capacity usually means you can drive farther on electricity, but it depends on how efficiently the car uses energy.

Term

electric range

Electric range is how far the car can go using electricity alone. For plug-in hybrids, it’s usually limited compared with fully electric cars.

Term

VAT

VAT is a tax added to the price of many goods, including cars in the UK. The host is saying the listed price doesn’t include that tax, so the final cost can be higher.

Term

plug-in hybrid system

A plug-in hybrid system is the whole setup that lets the car run on electricity and also use a gas engine when needed. Sharing the same system usually means the cars have similar core parts.

Car

Ford Transit custom plug-in hybrid system

Ford’s Transit Custom is a work van, and the host says Volkswagen is using Ford’s plug-in hybrid setup for this new van. That means the two vans share the core hybrid technology.

Term

battery electric vehicles

Battery electric vehicles are fully electric cars that run on a battery instead of gasoline. Their price can change based on battery costs and production.

Term

real terms

“Real terms” means they adjusted for inflation, so it’s a fair comparison of prices over time. It tells you what the price change really means for what you can buy.

Term

GenLink transfer switch

This is a safety device that lets your EV act like a backup power source for your house. It connects the truck’s power to your home’s electrical panel without you running messy extension cords.

Car

Ford F-150 Lightning

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a pickup truck that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. Some versions can also provide power to other things, like tools or even parts of a home, using built-in power outlets. That’s why it comes up when people talk about EVs being useful beyond driving.

Term

Pro Power Onboard

Pro Power Onboard is the feature that lets the Lightning power devices like a generator. In this case, it can even feed power into your home setup with the right connection.

Term

automatic wall charger based backup system

They’re comparing two ways to use your EV to help during a power outage. One uses a special setup with a wall charger, and the other uses the transfer switch method.

Brand

Nismo

Nismo is Nissan’s performance label. It usually means the car gets sportier tuning—like changes to how it accelerates and how it handles.

Car

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf is a mainstream electric car. Here, the news is that Nissan plans a Nismo version of the newer Leaf, aiming for a sportier feel.

Term

silicon carbon anodes

This is a battery material inside the EV. Mixing silicon with carbon can help the battery store more energy, which can mean more range and quicker charging.

Company

sealer

Sealer is a company working on EV battery materials. They’re raising money to make their silicon-carbon battery technology at larger scale.

Term

energy density

Energy density is basically how “full” the battery is for its size. A higher number usually means you can drive farther with the same battery weight.

Company

Mylands

Mylands is a company that runs charging locations. They opened a new heavy-duty charging hub in the Netherlands and emphasized low-emissions construction.

Place

A1

The A1 is a major road where the new charging hub is located. Putting chargers on busy highways helps travelers and trucks find charging easily.

Term

zero emission construction machinery

This means the construction equipment used to build the site didn’t produce exhaust while it was working. It’s a way to reduce pollution during construction.

Term

CCS bays

CCS is the standard plug most EVs use for fast charging. A “CCS bay” just means a charging spot/stall set up for that plug.

Term

400 kilowatts

400 kilowatts is how powerful the charger is. Even with a very powerful charger, the car may not charge at the full rate the entire time.

Term

megawatt charging

Megawatt charging means charging at extremely high power—around 1,000 kilowatts or more. It’s the next step beyond today’s fast chargers, but it’s harder to supply and manage.

Car

Rolls-Royce's Spectre

The Rolls-Royce Spectre is Rolls-Royce’s electric car. The episode says it sold really well, even ranking near the top of the brand’s models.

Company

GridServe

GridServe is a company that sets up EV charging stations. In this segment, they’re expanding their fast-charging locations in the UK.

Place

the M1

The M1 is a big highway in the UK. Building chargers there helps drivers on long trips find charging more easily.

Term

ultra-rapid charger

Ultra-rapid chargers are designed to charge an EV quickly. ABB is the company that makes the charging equipment used at this location.

Term

solar panel

Solar panels make electricity from sunlight. Putting them at a charging site can help make the charging operation greener.

Term

rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting means collecting rainwater for later use. It helps reduce how much water the site needs from other sources.

Concept

charge at home

“Charge at home” means plugging your EV in where you live, usually overnight. The point here is that many drivers prefer it because public fast charging can cost more.

Concept

expensive fast charging

Fast charging at public stations can cost a lot more than charging at home. The episode says some people avoid it because of the price.

Company

Australia Post

Australia Post is the postal service company. The segment says it’s getting government money to buy EV vans for deliveries.

Term

EV battery warranty

An EV battery warranty is protection for the car’s battery. If something goes wrong (or the battery degrades too much), the warranty helps cover the cost.

Company

Avalo

Avalo is a company offering EV battery warranty coverage. Here, it’s expanding that warranty to more countries in Europe.

Term

flash test technology

Flash test technology is a way to quickly check how healthy an EV battery is. It uses fast tests to estimate the battery’s condition.

LIVE

It's EV news briefly for Friday 24th of July, everything EV in less than five minutes.

If you haven't got time for the full podcast, let's get you up to speed.

Volkswagen has opened UK orders for its first transporter plug-in hybrid.

They call it an E hybrid.

It's either panel van, combi or shuttle body styles.

But get this, the battery is 11.8 kilowatts hours.

That seems all very 2018, just me.

35 miles of electric range.

The vehicle starts at £38,000 excluding VAT, because it's sold here by

Volkswagen commercial vehicles.

It's the only time you really get prices without VAT.

So I guess if a business is registered, makes no difference.

But otherwise, have 20% on to that price.

And it's not a cheap vehicle.

Of course, these vans share the Ford Transit custom plug-in hybrid system

because of the partnership.

And that's who Volkswagen have leaned on for this.

But still, ouch, small battery.

German BEVs are getting cheaper, not more expensive.

Let me explain.

A study by the ICCT and Fraunhofer ICI found that comparable battery electric

vehicles in Germany fell by 18% in real terms.

So they have got more expensive, but they've actually got less pricey.

If you factor in inflation and the car market as well,

everything's got more expensive.

Average list prices went from 37,000 to 53,000 euros.

But overall, EVs cost proportionally less.

That makes sense.

Ford has approved global power products.

GenLink transfer switch for the F-150 Lightning.

And that lets pro-power on-board customers feed your home electrical panel directly

with no extension cords.

The hardware is $1,100 plus installation.

That's a cheaper alternative to Ford's automatic wall charger based backup system.

Nissan confirming they will launch a Nismo version of the new leaf.

Still call it new leaf.

In Japan, okay, with North America and Europe set to follow.

Keeping the same motor, 160 kilowatts keeps the same battery.

They've tweaked the software for a bit more initial acceleration,

tweaked the suspension, and the tires as well.

I think many people who like a proper Nismo might shake their heads at that one.

Now, Sealer has raised $300 million to expand production of its silicon carbon anodes.

What that means though, is that their technology can boost your EV range by 20%,

an energy density by up to 40%, but also enables faster charging.

If you can improve the silicon carbon anodes, you can get a big jump in performance.

That work is ongoing there.

Mylands has opened its fourth Dutch heavy-duty charging hub.

And it's on the A1, notable as the company's first built entirely,

using zero emission construction machinery.

Which I thought was a cool point of the story.

The site offers five CCS bays at 400 kilowatts.

So, these are for heavy-duty vehicles though, so not quite megawatt charging.

But how cool, all built with electric vehicles.

Nice.

Rolls-Royce's Spectre became the brand's second best-selling model worldwide last year,

drawing a younger buyer base.

That's why Rolls-Royce are all in with EVs in the future.

GridServe opened their fifth electric four-court on the M1 in the UK.

39 ultra-rapid ABB chargers.

They're 400 kilowatt rated, and there's almost 40 of them.

Also solar panels and rainwater harvesting at that site can't wait to go.

A YouGov survey of over 2,000 EV drivers found that nearly all the drivers they question

charge at home, for those that at least they can.

That is a sign of the times.

Really, people avoiding expensive fast charging.

Australia Post will receive $40 million in federal investment for EV vans,

and Avalo extending its EV battery warranty to Norway and Denmark,

adding to 10 existing European markets with their flash test technology.

About this episode

Volkswagen opened UK orders for its first Transporter plug-in hybrid, the “E hybrid,” featuring an 11.8 kWh battery and about 35 miles of electric range, with pricing starting at £38,000 excluding VAT. The hosts also connect EV affordability to a study showing comparable German BEVs fell by 18% in real terms. Elsewhere, Ford backs F-150 Lightning power accessories like a GenLink transfer switch, while charging and battery tech updates include new CCS hubs and silicon-carbon anode production.

400 kilowatts Australia Post Avalo battery electric vehicles CCS bays charge at home combi electric range energy density EV battery warranty

Ford F-150 Lightning Ford Transit Custom Nissan Leaf Rolls-Royce Spectre Volkswagen Transporter Kombi (T6)

Original notes

It's EV News Briefly for Friday 24 July 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.

Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily

VOLKSWAGEN OPENS UK ORDERS FOR TRANSPORTER EHYBRID
Volkswagen has opened UK orders for its first Transporter plug-in hybrid, badged eHybrid, offered in panel van, Kombi and Shuttle bodystyles with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 11.8kWh battery delivering 232PS and up to 35 miles of electric range. Prices start at £38,155 excluding VAT, and the van shares its Ford Transit Custom-derived plug-in hybrid platform while retaining a 1,132kg payload and 2,300kg towing capacity.
GERMAN BEVS GOT CHEAPER, NOT PRICIER
A study by ICCT and Fraunhofer ISI found that comparable battery EVs in Germany fell about 18% in real terms between 2020 and 2025, even though average list prices rose from roughly €37,000 to €53,000 due to larger, better-equipped models. Battery costs dropped 21-24% nominally over the period, but manufacturers mostly reinvested those savings into extra range and R&D rather than passing them fully to buyers.
FORD APPROVES F-150 HOME BACKUP SWITCH
Ford has approved Global Power Products' GenerLink transfer switch for F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost Hybrid owners, letting Pro Power Onboard feed a home's main electrical panel directly without extension cords. The hardware costs $1,100 plus installation fees of $250-$1,500, positioning it as a cheaper alternative to Ford's automatic wall-charger-based backup system.
NISSAN LEAF NISMO LAUNCHES IN JAPAN
Nissan has launched the Leaf Nismo in Japan starting July 22, with North America and Europe to follow later; it keeps the standard 160kW/214hp motor and battery but adds recalibrated software for about 20% stronger initial acceleration, plus suspension, tyre and aerodynamic upgrades. Pricing starts at ¥6.60 million (~$40,600), rising to ¥7.23 million (~$44,510) for the weight-saving Recaro edition.
SILA RAISES $300 MILLION FOR US ANODES
Sila has raised $300 million to expand production of its Titan Silicon silicon-carbon anodes, which it claims can boost EV range by up to 20% and energy density by 20-40% with faster charging. Its Moses Lake, Washington factory is scaling toward 250 GWh of annual capacity within five years, with customers including Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic Energy already signed up.
MILENCE OPENS ZERO-EMISSION BUILT HENGLO TRUCK HUB
Milence has opened its fourth Dutch heavy-duty charging hub, at Deurningen-Hengelo on the A1, notable as the company's first built entirely using zero-emission construction machinery. The site offers five 400kW CCS bays plus rest facilities, and Milence, backed by Daimler Truck, Traton and Volvo, plans to replicate the all-electric construction approach at future hubs.
SPECTRE CLIMBS AS ROLLS-ROYCE KEEPS V12
The Rolls-Royce Spectre became the brand's second best-selling model worldwide in 2025, drawing a younger buyer base and showing little resistance from existing V12 customers, according to sales director Julian Jenkins. Despite this EV momentum and an upcoming Spectre Series II with 500kW output and 628km range, Rolls-Royce has dropped its 2030 V12 phase-out plan, citing regulatory changes, and will keep selling both powertrains.
GRIDSERVE OPENS FIFTH ELECTRIC FORECOURT AT M1
GRIDSERVE has opened its fifth Electric Forecourt at Markham Vale on the M1, featuring 39 ultra-rapid 400kW ABB charging bays, solar panels and rainwater harvesting, bringing its national network past 200 sites. The launch follows a record first half of 2026 in which battery electric vehicles reached about 24.9% of UK new car registrations.
HOME CHARGING LEAVES RAPID NETWORK UNDER STRAIN
A YouGov survey of 2,086 EV drivers found 74.6% use public chargers only once every few months or less, reflecting that 91% of EV owners can charge at home where off-peak tariffs can fall to 7p/kWh versus 87p/kWh for public rapid charging. This heavy reliance on home charging is squeezing public chargepoint operators financially, even as rapid chargers remain essential for longer journeys.
AUSTRALIA POST GETS $40.5M FOR HEAVIER EVS
Australia Post will receive a $40.5 million federal investment in 2026-27 to add electric vans, trucks, prime movers and depot charging infrastructure, building on its existing fleet of over 5,000 electric vehicles. The move aims to cut diesel use by about 1 million litres a year while supporting a delivery network handling 2.2 billion parcels annually.
AVILOO EXPANDS USED EV BATTERY WARRANTY NORTH
Aviloo has extended its used EV Battery Warranty to Norway and Denmark, adding to ten existing European markets, using its three-minute Flash Test to set an individual State of Health threshold for each vehicle. If a covered battery falls below that threshold within a year, buyers receive compensation of up to 34,000 kr in Norway or 23,000 kr in Denmark, plus a refund of the test cost.

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